Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gauche contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauche are awkward, clumsy, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When is it sensible to use awkward instead of gauche?

The words awkward and gauche can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

Where would clumsy be a reasonable alternative to gauche?

The synonyms clumsy and gauche are sometimes interchangeable, but clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When would inept be a good substitute for gauche?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauche, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

In what contexts can maladroit take the place of gauche?

The words maladroit and gauche are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gauche The reason is very simple—the Noto palazzo was very gauche and fit for the party later in the season, to be thrown by Hollander’s character. Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2022 That would be too gauche, too legislative for the court. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 19 May 2022 Dear Looking: Greeting your host with your Gladware out and at the ready is definitely gauche. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2021 Dear Looking: Greeting your host with your Gladware out and at the ready is definitely gauche. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for gauche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauche
Adjective
  • But beneath the glittering headlines lies the uncomfortable truth: the advertised jackpot is not the real prize, the odds are stacked against players, and the system relies heavily on the very people most vulnerable to financial strain.
    Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • An uncomfortable Lydia attempted to change the subject, but her dad kept going.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But, sadly, this can be hard to repair once too far gone; naming the dynamic out loud can be daunting and awkward.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • India wants all three guests to remain seated, however awkward the conversation may be.
    Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a huge bonus for a clumsy gal like myself, who often trips over air.
    Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The scale of the problem became terrifyingly clear during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the Japanese government struggled to respond to a nationwide crisis with clumsy digital tools.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike taking space to cool down, which is a much healthier strategy, the silent treatment is used specifically to make the other partner feel uneasy.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The pair form an uneasy and sometimes humorous alliance while uncovering a drug ring revolving around a dangerous alien narcotic.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The New York Yankees are getting absolutely embarrassed by their arch-rival the Boston Red Sox on their own field pic.twitter.com/L8BewLKHPI — Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 23, 2025 What once looked like a dominant season from the Bronx Bombers is now headed toward an ultimate collapse.
    Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Democratic Party, which needs to win in much more conservative states to take power nationally, is sometimes embarrassed by California liberalism.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gauche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauche. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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